- 6.
The next morning, Mom rushed to the hospital,
Dad trailing behind. She complained about the
wasted trip. But when she saw my body in the
morgue, she stumbled back, crouching against
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the wall. “How? He seemed fine…
11
704
I had looked fine. Just a few scrapes from
shielding Jason. That’s why my heart ruptured. The adrenaline rush masked the internal
injuries. Mom, the hospital administrator, should have known. But she’d only looked at Jason.
Dad reached out to touch my face, but hesitated, maybe repelled by how I looked.
Jason and Ashley arrived. Jason, sensing something was wrong, rushed in, falling to his knees. “Jason! Why? Were you that angry about
the scholarship? Did you kill yourself to get
back at me?” He sobbed dramatically, then
slapped himself. “I’m sorry, Jason. It’s all my
fault!”
Mom and Dad rushed to comfort him. Mom
hugged him tightly. “It’s not your fault, Jay–Jay!
It’s his own fault! He was greedy, and he got
what he deserved!”
<
The scholarship… My mind flashed back to two
years ago. Jason was taking his college entrance exams. I was a senior in college. Knowing I couldn’t rely on my parents, I’d
worked hard my whole life, hoping to escape
this family. I’d earned a scholarship to a top
graduate program.
Jason failed his exams and announced he
wanted to study abroad. Mom and Dad knew
he’d just party, but they agreed. Mom made a
big dinner, piling food on my plate. “Jason,
honey, we only have enough money to send one
of you abroad. Jay–Jay just finished high
school. Why don’t you let him go?”
I put down my chopsticks. “Mom, sending Jason
abroad is a waste of money. I got into a top
program!”
It was my first act of defiance. Mom slammed
her bowl down. “We raised you! You’re almost
done with college. Shouldn’t you be thinking.
<
about supporting us? How can you be so cruel
to your brother? Do you want us to die?”
Maybe I still craved a sliver of her love. I caved.
“Fine, Mom. Jason can have it.”
Now, I regretted it. Maybe if I hadn’t given up
that scholarship, I’d be living abroad, with a
good job, not dead in a morgue.
- 7.
Guilt–ridden, Mom organized a decent funeral.
Family, friends, and Mom’s colleagues attended.
The nurse who had tried to help me brought
flowers. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Maybe
if I’d been braver…”
She was the only one who tried to help, the only
one who apologized. Mom, without a shred of
remorse, was telling everyone, “Jason was
always difficult. He tried to hurt his brother out
of spite and got what he deserved.”
<
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704
Everyone knew she favored Jason, knew how I’d been treated, but they just murmured their condolences.
Suddenly, sirens wailed. Police pushed through the crowd, stopping in front of Mom and Jason.
“Ma’am, are you Mrs. Linda Miller?”
Mom nodded, confused.
The officer held up a warrant. “You’re under
arrest for misuse of hospital resources and
medical malpractice resulting in death.”
Jason jumped in front of Mom. “You’re wrong!
My mom’s a dedicated professional! You need
evidence!” He turned and yelled, “Who reported
her?!”
The nurse stepped forward timidly. “I did.”
Jason lunged at her, fist raised, but the police
12:01
grabbed him. “Sir, calm down. We have
evidence.”
